It's Hillary -- no question about it

Two consecutive posts at Political Wire this morning, on the sort-of eve of Obama's second inauguration, indicate that it's Hillary in 2016.  Not Hillary vs. Republican candidate, just Hillary.

Newt Gingrich told Meet the Press that if Hillary Clinton runs for president, the Republican party has little chance of regaining the White House in 2016.

Said Gingrich: "The Republican party is incapable of competing at that level."

He added that she's "married to the most popular Democrat in the country" and she would also have the backing of President Obama, who will still be a "relatively popular president." ...Political Wire

"I don't know what she's going to do, but I do know this: The Democrats want her to run. And I don't just mean a lot of Democrats. I mean a whole lot of Democrats, like 90 percent across the country. We just want to win. We think she's the best person and shut it down. And that's across the board."  -- James Carville, on This Week, on Hillary Clinton's presidential prospects in 2016. ...Political Wire

Kind of fun to imagine, say, Hillary v. Rick Santorum or (better!) Hillary v. Michele Bachmann. 

Who is Hillary's vice presidential choice?

What's even more interesting about this is the hint from the other side that some? many? a few? Republicans would vote for Hillary.

Then there's the effect this turn of events could have on the far reaches of right.  Maybe they'd do us all a favor and secede.

___

Daily Intel was speculating about Hillary's future yesterday evening. 

Jodi Kantor (author of The Obamas) wrote in today's New York Times, Clinton will have to choose those pursuits carefully while she makes her final decision: "The more serious she is about 2016, the less she can do — no frank, seen-it-all memoir; no clients, commissions or controversial positions that could prove problematic." Consider that a clue, Hillary-watchers — the less interesting her activities appear, the more likely it is that she is planning to run...

...Even if she decides not to run, keeping her life campaign-ready will ensure her legacy as a "widely respected figure whose chief accomplishments are mostly behind her." However, it seems like it would be a real shame to pass up the opportunity to pursue the presidency, which is apparently Clinton's for the taking.  ...Daily Intel

Hillary could have an interesting opponent in 2016 if he keeps his act together.